15 days ecotourism in Turkey

Welcome to Turkey! The Aegean coast into the heartland of Turkey shows both the harshness and beauty of the landscape but also provides adventurists with all the excitement nature can throw at them. From Rafting the Dalaman, Hiking the Saklikent Gorge (the largest in Europe) and the famous Lycian Way to Paragliding from the heavens along an amazing coastline. An active tour combining the spirit of the local communities and hospitality of their people.

Day 1 – Fethiye – Arrival Day
(Dinner included)
You will be transferred from Dalaman Airport or Fethiye bus station to your Hotel. On arrival please check into the hotel where your accommodation has been reserved for the night. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to enjoy party and explore Fethiye. Overnight in Oludeniz or Fethiye

Day 3 – Saklikent Gorge
(Breakfast and dinner included)
09:00 am Drive to Tlog & walk in Saklikent Gorge. You can choose Saklikent in Turkey for a very special holiday. In a day you can walk in the Saklikent Gorge looking at the unique beauties & you can embark on an adventure by joining the Canyoning activities & you can feel excitement and freshness of the river by rafting & you can shout your freedom by paragliding. Or, visit the historical places. These activities don’t require so much effort. Overnight in Fethiye.

Day 4 – Kas
(Breakfast and dinner included)
09:00amWe depart for Butterfly Valley by boat. The Butterfly Valley near Fethiye is a hidden gem of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast. Deep, steep and accessible only by boat or via the Lycian Way walking trail, it is a protected site because millions of butterflies – over 30 daytime species including the Jersey Tiger Moth and 40 nocturnal species. After Butterfly Valley Tour then drive to Kas for the night. Overnight in Kas.

Day 5 – Kas
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Explore Kas just relaxing under the sun and to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean. There are water sports available in the area, like canoeing, jet skiing, diving and paragliding. Overnight in Kas.

Day 6 – Demre
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Walk the Lycian Way to the sunken city of Aperlae. This island is partially submerged into the water because of earthquakes throughout history, and it is also known as the “Sunken City. ” Across is Kekova island The island of Kekova is accessible by boat from Kas and offers a fun way to combine an exploration of ancient Lycian ruins with swimming in turquoise waters and a barbecue on the beach. Continue to main road then drive to Finike. Overnight in Finike.

Day 7 – Olympos
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Walk the Lycian Way to Olympos & Chimaera – the unquenchable flame. One of the highlights of a visit is Chimaera, near the ancient city of Olympos. The chimaera, or mythical fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the torso of a goat, and the rear of a snake that allegedly roams the hills are actually a series of eternal flames flickering along the rocky slopes above the ancient city of Olympos, which would account for the Lycians worship of the fire god Hephaestos (Vulcan). But never fear: According to legend, the Chimaera was slain by Bellerophon on his winged horse Pegasus. The fires are caused by the combustion of a predominantly methane gas mixture seeping out of the earth. Overnight in Olympos at Tree Houses & Bungalows.

Day 8 – Olympos
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Rest day in Olympos. Enjoy the sunshine and take in the views and natural magnificent beach & crystal clear sea and explore the city, shop in the local markets, relax on the beach or enjoy with its unspoilt scenery and fascinating Lycian history, this part of Turkey’s Mediterranean coast is the perfect place for an unforgettable holiday. Overnight in Olympos at Tree Houses & Bungalows.

Day 9 – Termessos and Duden Waterfall
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast Depart for Termessos. The ruins of the city of Termessos are perched on a 1050 metre high plateau on the west face of the Gulluk Mountain (Solymos) found in Mt. Gulluk National Park on the northwest of Antalya. A wild and splendid landscape surrounds the monumental traces of this city. Termessians (Pisidian people) lived in their impregnable fortress city and guarded their independence fiercely. Alexander the Great was fought off in 333 B. C. and the Romans accepted Termessos as an independent ally, not as a subject city in 70 B. C. Duden Waterfall It is situated in DSI state park. It has been used as a settlement area dating back to 5th century BC. There are ancient graves built near the waterfall, dating back to 3rd century BC. Discharge of the of the river is 25 million m3 per year. It is 25 meters deep. Overnight in Antalya.

Day 10 – Antalya – Egirdir
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast depart for Egirdir. Egirdir is on the southern tip of the most beautiful Pisidian lakes. Egirdir is a fine place to stop in the midst of your journey for two days of quiet rest and contempation. Overnight in Egirdir.

Day 11 – Egirdir Free Day
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Egirdir is beautiful and shows another side of Turkey all together. Swimming, boating and hiking can fill a few days if you want to be active. You can also swim in the beautifull natural lake that lies at Egirdir. There are famous fish to be caught here that seem to have no bones. The fish is extremly delicious dont miss out on the traditional meal of Balik Fish and the famous Turkish drink Raki. There are a number of small farms located in this area where you can see the workers using traditional methods of farming. You will be welcomed by all people in this region. Overnight in Egirdir.

Day 12 – Egirdir – Konya and Cappadocia
(Breakfast and dinner included)
This morning we drive to Konya and see the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana & museum, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). After Konya Depart for Cappadocia. The strange but beautiful formation of Cappadocia has had this appearance for millions of years. When the volcanoes in the region were active, the lava which poured out covered all previously formed hills and valleys forming a high plateau. It is estimated that there are more than 600 rock-cut churches in Cappadocia. Walls were covered with beautiful frescoes and they were also influenced by the Iconoclast period in the 8th and 9th Century. The underground cities in Cappadocia are unique too. No one knows when the underground cities of Cappadocia were built, perhaps in Hittite times or as late as the 16th Century. Another region worth visiting in the area is the famous Ihlara Valley. Ihlara Valley (Canyon) is a deep, narrow river gorge cut through the tufa by the Melendiz River. The canyon runs for 20 km / 12 miles offering one of the most enjoyable trekking routes to those people who can spare the minimum of half a day. In the canyon there are about 60 churches, monasteries and cells of anchorites. There are also loads of activities available in Cappadicia: hot-air ballooning, horse and camel riding, trekking, the list goes on. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 13 – Cappadocia Tour by Jeep Safari
(Breakfast and dinner included)
The full day Cappadocian Jeep Safari begins in the deeply set valley town of Urgup and will then drive through to the Uzengi River. The drive will take you through scenery that includes pigeon houses, the grape growing district and the near by wineries of Ortahisar. The jeep tour will then take passengers off the beaten track with a visit to the picturesque caves of the Red Valley. The jeep safari provides the perfect opportunity to take a rest and soak up the natural beauty of the Cappadocian scenery. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 14 – Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
We’ll pick you up in your hotel and depart at 09:00 o’clock to drive to Ihlara Valley. There, we’ll walk nearly 4 km and visit the frescoed churches before it gets hot. Lunch is in Ihlara Valley, at bank of Melendiz River, which is flowing in the valley. After lunch, we’ll visit Selime Cathedral and return back to Derinkuyu Underground City. On the way, we’ll visit the Nar Crater Lake. Whilst all other tour groups are at Ihlara Valley, we will be in an underground city where temperature is 12-13 C afternoon. After we visit the biggest underground city of Cappadocis, we’ll drive to the Pigeons Valley to see pigeon houses, which were made to collect guano in. Overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 15 – Cappadocia – End of Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. We make your return airport transfer services. Have a nice trip back home.

The above Eco tour is based on a private tour. If you would like to visit any other places not mentioned in this itinerary, we are happy to create a tailor made Ecotourism holiday to suit whatever you wish to do. Just let us know how long you would like to stay and which places you are interested in visiting.